Page 4 of Craig

Craig felt the rage erupting and had to tamp it down.

"He was a good man, honest and human. If that's what you call weak, you don't know a damn thing."

"Craig-"

Cecil lifted an imperious hand to stop the lawyer. "I did not bring you here to start an argument."

"Then you should have let me be."

Cecil nodded. "You're the only remaining family I have left, and very soon, I will be no more."

He glanced at his lawyer. "Give us a minute."

The man gathered up his briefcase and, giving Craig a warning look, left the room, closing the door behind him.

"I'm surprised you didn't make him stay."

"William is a damn good lawyer, but he's not family." Cecil shrugged.

"Besides, what I have to say to you, he already knows." Cecil stared at him levelly.

"I'm dying. The doctors gave me two months to live."

Craig felt a twinge and told himself it was not regret. He felt nothing for this man.

"I see that's breaking your heart." Cecil's tone was dry.

"We all have to die sometime."

"You're right. But it so happens that I have complete control of the assets, everything, including your trust fund."

"I have some money-"

"From your mother, yes, I know. A few million dollars."

Cecil smiled grimly. "Which is certainly not enough to fund the project you're interested in."

It took some doing, but Craig managed to wipe his expression clean. "What project?"

His grandfather smiled at that. "Your poker face is excellent."

Picking up a paperweight, he balanced it in his palm, his eyes unwavering. "You see, I've been keeping tabs on you."

"Why am I not surprised?" Craig asked caustically.

"So?"

"I know what you want to do. What you hope to achieve. You need your inheritance to make it happen."

Giving up, Craig rose jerkily and went to the cabinet to pour himself a finger of scotch. "What do you want?"

"You to take your rightful place at the company and settle down."

Craig went as still as a stone before turning around slowly. "Settle down?"

"Married."

"Not a chance in hell, and you cannot make me. Like you said, I'm the only living family, which means I will inherit everything after you die."